Digital Inclusion Plan

The City of Fayetteville is working to improve equitable access to digital services and programs. During 2018, the City will work with stakeholders and the public to identify existing conditions, goals, and recommendations for improvement.

Background

Fayetteville has been recognized as a small city that rivals big cities in its digital practices. The City invests progressively in its digital backbone for delivery of services to citizens. Upgrading the City’s building network connectivity will improve our digital infrastructure for enhanced and efficient government operations and access to city services.

The City recently upgraded its City-Wide Institutional Network to increase broadband speeds and implement public Wi-Fi networks around select public facilities, particularly parks.

A new ordinance for Small Cell Facilities siting was passed by the City Council in November to define internal procedures for working with providers as they implement the new small cell technologies in public rights of way and private property.

In addition to the infrastructure planning for high speed networks for city operations and services, an equally important goal is to enhance access for all citizens to affordable broadband services.

In Process

Digital inclusion for all citizens for online learning, access to job banks, closing the homework gap, and increasing ways in which citizens can be civically engaged online will comprise the city’s new digital equity strategy

The Digital Inclusion Plan will include public policy priorities for furthering digital equity in Fayetteville for consumers, citizens, students, job seekers, and entrepreneurs so that we can advance digital equity in ways that will allow us to have a meaningful impact on the lives of residents

Working in partnership with the Fayetteville Library, Fayetteville Public Schools, the University of Arkansas, citizens, and industry partners, the city’s Digital Inclusion Plan will build equity awareness and accommodations into all city departments and public services